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148 Diagnosing Corruption in Ethiopia
Box 4.4 (continued)
Box Figure 4.4.2 Corruption Risks Identified by Drilling Contractors in the
Ethiopian Water Sector
100
proportion of drilling companies
80
60
40
20
0
tender payment licensing supervision supervision
quality
risk area
level of risk
high
low
Source: Author.
Note: “Tender” refers to the tendering and procurement process. “Payment” refers to final payment for
completed work. “Licensing” refers to the licensing procedure for drilling companies. “Supervision”
relates to corrupt practices in on-site supervision and sign-off by government staff. “Supervision quality”
refers to (noncorrupt) failures in on-site supervision (for example, officials’ failure to arrive on site at
agreed-upon time and poor technical knowledge of supervising officials.
Nine of the 10 contractors interviewed stated that corruption in tendering
and procurement was not a problem, again citing the volume of work available
and the low incentive for corrupt practice. However, the contractors were less
enthusiastic about field supervision and sign-off by zonal and regional officials,
highlighting delays in approval and noting that small bribes were occasionally
offered or solicited. Several also remarked on delays in payment following contract
completion and invoice approval as well as the need to “speed things along”
occasionally with small payments or large lunches.
Construction and Payment: The Borehole Story
After the contracts are awarded, corruption can also be prevalent in the
construction of infrastructure and in final invoicing for work completed—or
not completed. In construction, bribery and fraud resembles